The Red Meadows facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Red Meadows
1945 movie poster by Kai Rasch
Directed by	Bodil Ipsen Lau Lauritzen Jr.
Produced by	Jens Dennow Henning Karmark
Written by	Lech Fischer Ole Juul (book)
Starring	Poul Reichhardt Lisbeth Movin
Music by	Sven Gyldmark
Cinematography	Rudolf Frederiksen
Editing by	Marie Ejlersen
Distributed by	ASA Film
Release date(s)	1945 (1945)
Running time	85 minutes
Country	Denmark
Language	Danish

The Red Meadows (Danish: De røde enge) is a 1945 Danish war drama film. It was directed by Bodil Ipsen and Lau Lauritzen Jr.. The movie is based on a 1945 book by Ole Valdemar Juul, who was a resistance fighter.

The film stars Poul Reichhardt and Lisbeth Movin. It tells a thrilling story about a Danish resistance fighter. He remembers past events while waiting in a German prison during World War II. The Red Meadows was filmed in Denmark just months after the German occupation ended. It was made to honor the brave Danish resistance fighters. The movie won the Palme d'Or award at the Cannes Film Festival. Many people see it as a very well-made and important film.

The Story of the Film

Michael's Dangerous Mission

The movie takes place in Denmark during World War II. German forces had taken over the country. Michael (played by Poul Reichhardt) is a young Danish saboteur. This means he secretly damages things to help his country. He is caught and held in a Gestapo jail. Michael is in great danger and thinks back to how he ended up there.

In a field in Jutland, Michael and his friends are waiting. They are expecting a secret delivery of weapons and explosives from Britain. These supplies are needed for the resistance to fight back. After getting the supplies, Michael goes to his hiding place. But German soldiers suddenly find him. He manages to escape from them.

Escape to Copenhagen

Michael then stops a car on a country road. A German Field Officer is driving it. Michael gets past the officer and takes his uniform. Dressed as a German officer, Michael can travel safely. He reaches Copenhagen and finds his girlfriend, Ruth (played by Lisbeth Movin). She lives in a hotel.

Toto (played by Lau Lauritzen) is the leader of Michael's resistance group. He is waiting for Michael. They plan to destroy a weapons factory. But the group suspects there might be a spy among them. Because of this, they delay their plan.

A Spy in the Group

One of the group members, Dreyer, is arrested. So, Ruth and Michael quickly go to her uncle's summer house. Ruth is very worried about Michael. She tells him that if he dies, everything will feel meaningless to her. She says the green meadows would turn red, like his blood.

The plans for the factory sabotage are finished. The group gets ready to act. But it turns out there was a spy. Soldiers are waiting for them, and they are surprised. During the fight, Michael gets hurt. Even though he is wounded, he manages to blow up the factory. Then, he is captured.

Michael's Time in Prison

Back in the Gestapo jail, Michael is in a tough situation. A prison guard named Steinz (played by Per Buckhøj) does not like the war or the Nazis. He tries to help Michael in small ways. But he cannot stop Michael from being hurt. Michael is strong and does not give in during the harsh questioning. Still, he is sentenced to death.

While in jail, Michael starts to guess who the spy is. He sends a secret message to his friends through Steinz. The message is: "The apple is rotten." This means there's a traitor.

The Traitor and New Dangers

The resistance group sets a trap. Prikken (played by Preben Neergaard) reveals himself as the spy. The group decides they must deal with him. It is not hard to find members willing to do this.

Michael is being driven to his execution. Steinz tells him that his whole family was killed in an Allied air attack that week. Michael asks Steinz to escape with him. But Steinz refuses and takes his own life in the car. Michael manages to escape.

Freedom in Sweden

Michael finds safety in a bakery. There, he contacts Toto. Both Michael and Ruth find a way to get to Sweden. In Sweden, they are finally safe and can rest.

Cast of Characters

See also

In Spanish: La tierra será roja para niños